But as the winners of the Architizer A+ awards show, office buildings can also be quirky, artistic, and truly beautiful. As idiosyncratic as the cities they stand in, these buildings inspire awe.

Whether through a bamboo-filled atrium at the entrance, wind turbines that help a skyscraper generate its own energy, or a mirrored facade that reflects a Nordic bay, these buildings expand our sense of what "office building" even means.

These are our favorite office exteriors from the second annual A+ Awards.